“Ang galing ng mga surfers sarap panuorin. Lalo na ang mga finalists. Parang surf movie. Nagliliparan.” (The surfers were great and amazing to watch. More so the finalists. It’s just like what you see in surf movies – there were big airs all around)

– Rizaldo Quintos – Competition Judge, long time Zambales surfer

***

August 28- 29. It was during the long weekend where the swell came to Zambales and fired the start of what everyone was waiting for – the actual Big Z Surf Competition where big name surfers were expected to put on a fantastic show. The event did experience a a week-long lay day because of the lack of swell coming from the West Philippine sea. But August is the season of Zambales surfing and surely enough the waves came at the right moment.

the famous lefthander that is Magic Left

waves at last

the makeshift judges tower at the Left. ZBA President Mac Ramos calling the shots.

and the competitors waste no time working the waves

wahine divison

Pundakit is a great spot for competitions. and oh, that’s Capones Island at the background.

Eliminations happened on Sunday the first day at Magic Left. The competitors showed great surfing and they gave the judges a tough time scoring with their spectacular heats. The next day saw the Rivermouth break as a more favorable spot to continue the elims. Eventually the top surfers made their way to the Finals on Monday.

second day at the Rivermouth

judge’s table

Mocha of Daet going all out. She eventually wins the Wahine division.

and then the Men’s Finals

Argie Hugo aka “Bad Boy”

Air Saddam

Jeff de la Torre

the young phenom JR

And the results were in. Here are the winners of the Big Z Surf Competition:

What looked bleak at first became a momentous event at the end. The success of the Big Z Event resonates within the Philippine surfing community and there is already a buzz about the next Zambales Boardriding Association event which is said to be a revitalized Zambapalooza 2011. As surfing in the Philippines progresses the province of Zambales is poised to establish a stronghold in the competitive surfing circuit.

*photo credits:

Theresa Arigo of Subic.com and Michael del Rosario for the action shots

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